Lady Explorers go 6-0 at Toledo Tune-Up

Published 3:43 am, Thursday, June 16, 2011

TOLEDO, Ohio -- The Midland Lady Explorers defense of their National Softball Association Women's Championship started with an overpowering performance at last weekend's Toledo Tune-Up.

The team outscored the opposition 53-3 on the way to a 6-0 record and the tournament title.

"I'm impressed with how quickly we gelled," said Lady Explorers' manager Mike Kozuch. "It looked like we had been together for nine months. I think we came away from the tournament and everyone realized that we have something special here."

Sam Cain earned the victory in the first game, a 6-0 win over Team Thunder (Jackson), as she struck out nine while allowing four hits and one walk. At the plate, the Wayne State pitcher went 2-for-3, including a double, with two runs batted in. Alison Allen, Katie Martin and Kellen Dewey each had two hits.

In the second game, Jordan Wheatley earned a 6-1 win over the Windsor Wild. The Penn State hurler struck out one, walked one and allowed three hits. Stacey Klonowski and Allen each went 2-for-3 with a RBI.

Martin picked up a 10-0 win over Wizards Green (Toledo). The Division II 2011 Daktronics National Player of the Year struck out two and gave up four hits. At the plate, the GVSU player added three hits, including a homer, scored twice and drove in two runs.

Tasia Diaz, Lauren Histed, Wheatley and Cain all added two hits while Wheatley drove in two runs.

Cain picked up her second win on the day as the Lady Explorers defeated the Miami Valley Xpress (Canton, Ohio) 12-1. The righthander struck out one and allowed four hits, while Wheatley earned the save. Histed, Allen, Martin, Amanda Maxon, Jessica Chatterton, Wheatley and Sondra Graham each contributed two hits.

Wheatley allowed four hits and struck out five in an 8-0 defeat of the Windsor Wildcats. Klonowski added two hits, one RBI and scored once.

In the final game, Martin threw a one-hitter to defeat Windsor Lady Expos 11-1 as she struck out seven of the first nine batters. Maxon added two hits, scored twice and belted a three-run homer. Wheatley and Histed each had two hits.

The Lady Explorers are back in action June 24-26, when they venture to Petoskey for the Mary Lou Ingalls Memorial Invitational.